Based on this shared belief in the importance of diversity, supporters of the VCU Brandcenter, the country’s premier graduate program for branding and advertising, came together over the summer to create the Agent of Change Scholarship Fund.

“Having played an integral role in the Brandcenter since its inception, Martin is proud to continue our support through the Agent of Change scholarship,” said Kristen Cavallo, CEO of The Martin Agency. “This scholarship is designed to attract a greater number of students with diverse backgrounds – something our industry is critically lacking. We are honored to help promote this vital initiative to help change advertising for the better.”

“It was easy to be in on the ground floor of this scholarship,” recalled faculty member Caley Cantrell. “The Brandcenter program thrives on collaboration among people with different perspectives and opinions.”

Elisha Greenwell, senior brand strategist for Facebook’s Factory, cited the important role that a diverse workforce plays in serving global communities. “Facebook’s Factory aims to create work that elevates the best part of our platform which is, unsurprisingly, the people that use it and all the good that comes from the communities they build together. With 2B+ users, these communities are both diverse and global, and it’s important that we nurture talent that reflects them.”

“Scholarships are critical to recruitment and provide vital support for students. The VCU Brandcenter is thankful for the vision and generosity of our Agent of Change Scholarship Fund donors,” said Vann Graves, executive director of the VCU Brandcenter.

Supporters to date include: Caley Cantrell, Kristen Cavallo, The Martin Agency, Facebook’s Factory, and Sylvain Labs. They invite others to join them with the goal of building the fund to $1 million.